St Luke's Way (East)
St Luke's Way
The eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn.
Patron: Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416) English anchoress, mystic and theologian.
Julian's writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman. They are also the only surviving works by an anchoress in English. Her feast is celebrated on 13th May.
Overview
The Way starts at the Cathedral and leaves the city along a disused railway line. The route follows the Walsingham Way along lanes to Great Ryborough. The path then follows the Way of the Annunciation to Fakenham and onto the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and then Walsingham. The Way follows lanes to Dersingham and soon joins the Norfolk Coast Path to King's Lynn. The Way continues to Wisbech, Spalding, Bourne and then crosses farmland to join the Danelaw Way. The route continues along paths and tracks to Grantham. From there the route crosses farmland to Bingham and soon after joins the Trent Valley Way to central Nottingham and finally St Barnabas' Cathedral.
Essential facts:
- Route length: 158.7 miles
- Ascent: 1,886 ft
- Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat)
- Average walk day length: 15.8 miles
- Average walk day duration: 6 hours
- First walking day: Tuesday 2 September 2025
- Number of walking days: 10
- Number of rest days: 1
- End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham
- Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral.
Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025.
For a detailed map of the route click the button below.
